Carlos Corberán says Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round clash at Chesterfield will be a “special” one for a number of reasons.
Albion travel to the Technique Stadium to take on the Vanarama National League outfit for the first time in 75 years this weekend, with almost 2,000 Baggies supporters heading for the East Midlands in the hope of seeing their side progress to the next stage of the tournament.
The Spireites, now into their fifth consecutive season in the top-tier of England’s non-league pyramid, are hunting promotion back to the EFL this term and sit third in their division with two games in hand on the leaders Notts County.
And the boss believes there’s something “magical” about a 90-minute game of football involving two teams from two very different leagues in a competition as historic as the FA Cup.
Carlos said: “To play in this competition is always special because of the magic of the cup. It’s very different to the league.
“We will be going into our game with a determination to keep going in the FA Cup and to progress through to the next round.
“This club has won the FA Cup five times and I spent time with someone earlier this week who was involved the last time Albion won the competition.
“We have a lot of desire to keep going in the FA Cup.
“I always think it’s important to use the past to keep growing in the future. Knowing that this club has won the FA Cup five times before gives us a lot of determination when we step onto the pitch.
“It shows just how big West Bromwich Albion Football Club is. When you play for a big club then you have to always give your best.
“I think Chesterfield will be a very competitive team. They are a few leagues below us, but they are in the same round of the competition as us, so for me there is no difference.
“I know their coach, Paul Cook. I know him from his previous work in the Championship.
“A lot of their players who play for them this year in the National League, they were playing in League One last season. They are one of the best teams in the National League.
“They are aggressive in defence and brave in attack. We have prepared for Chesterfield just as we would for any opponent in the Championship.
“We need to produce our best level again tomorrow to be able to keep progressing in the FA Cup.
“The FA Cup is special because it throws up games where teams from different leagues often play against each other and there’s just 90 minutes to try and get through to the next stage of the competition.
“We have 90 minutes on Saturday to show that we are a better team.
“It means a lot to us that 2,000 people will travel to Chesterfield on Saturday to support the team. They will be with the team tomorrow and that only increases our determination to keep going in the competition.
“The atmosphere is going to be really special.”
